Ice-velocipede



(No Model.)

G. RIEXINGER. ICE VELOGIPEDE. No. 526,745. Patented Oct. 2,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

GEORGE RIEXIN GER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ICE-VELOCIPEDL,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No- 526,745, dated October2, 1894- Application filed February 1, 1894:. Serial No. 493,751. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

B e it known that I, GEORGE RIEXINGER a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of 5 New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Ice-Velocipedes, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact specification. I

My invention has general reference to im- [0 provements in icevelocipedes; and it conslsts, essentially, in the novel and peculiar,combmation of parts and details of constructwo, as hereinafter firstfully set forth and described, and then pointed out in the claims. inthe drawings already referred to and which serve to illustrate my saidinvention more fully, Figure 1 is aside-elevation of my lmproved icevelocipede. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the propellingwheel, in l ne .2 z of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view in line 00 0aof Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view in line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isan elevation of a portion of the main frame. Like parts are designatedby corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.

The object of my present invention is the production of a light, strong,simple and efficient ice velocipede, for the use upon ice or mysurfaces. To attain this result,I construct this vehicle substantiallyof a main frame A, having at its forward extremity a tubular head a,within which is located the steering bar This bar has at its lower end askate or runner b, the lower longitudinal edge (1 of which is beveled toa sharp edge, as shown in section in Fig. 4, so as to out into the iceand thereby to enable the vehicle being readily steered or guided by thesteering-bar O having the usual handles, as shown in Fig. 1. The mainframe has, about midway, an upwardly-projecting tubular member D, forthe reception of a seat-post D, carrying on its upper end the seat orsaddle E. Directly underneath this tubular member D is provided atransverse bearing D, within which revolves the pedal-shaft F having onits outer ends pedals f f, and on one side, (or both sides, if desired,)a sprocket-wheel G, of the usual construction. Behind the transversebearing D the main frame divides into branches H H, forming afork, saidbranches being downwardly bent at J J, and terminating in runners orskates K K, the vehicle being carried upon these skates in conjunctionwith the runner d. At the bends of the branches J J there are providedslotted bearings G within which is journaled the axlerl of thepropelling wheel. This wheel consists of a hub L, Fig. 2, havingasprocket-wheel Z, (connected with the sprocket-wheel G by a chain-beltg, of the usual construction) wire spokes Z and a U-shaped rim M. Inthis rim there are pivoted, at n, a series of dogs N, terminating inpoints 0. In the rim there are a series of holes 19, through which passthe studs R of the dogsNand having at their outer ends lock-nuts Q Q;spiral springs P being interposed between the rim and the dogs aroundthe studs so as to push the dogs tangentiallyfrom said rim M.

This vehicle is provided with a brake lever S, pivoted to the lower endof one of the branches J, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 at k, thelong arm of which is downwardly bent to act as a scraper upon the icewith its point T, while the short arm thereof connects with theconnecting rod V with one arm of a bell-crank W pivoted at the bend ofthe fork J, the other arm of which connects with a similar rod V", V,and V, and bell-cranks W and W with the brake lever U pivoted to one armof the steering handle 0, at u.

The operation of this device is substantially as follows Assuming thatthe springs around the studsR of the dogs N have pushed them outwardly,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as soon as one of these dogs reaches the icysurface, its point 0 will catch in the ice and form an abutment for thewheel to push the vehicle forward. While this takes place the dog willmove on its pivot toward the rim until its point is in line with avertical line through the center of the wheel, when the dog will moveoutwardly until, in revolving of the wheel, the lock-nut Q, will reachthe rim M. By this time the next succeeding dog has reached a pointforward of the said vertical center line to enable it to engage the iceand thus the dogs coming successively in contact with the ice surfacecause the forward movement of the vehicle. It will be further observedthat the driving wheel hereinbefore described may also be used onvehicles driven by steam, air, gas, electric and other motorssufficiently light, such as bicycles and similar vehicles are now made,can be propelled upon the ice with but little effort on the part of theoperator. It is cheaply manufactured and will be found a valuable anddesirable means of sport and travel upon, ice and icy surfaces.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In an ice velocipede, adriving wheel having a U-shaped rim provided with a series of apertures10, of a series of dogs N, pivoted within said rim at n,and providedwith curved points 0,said dogs havingthestuds It provided with lock-nutsQ Q and surrounded by spiral springs P bearing with one end upon thedogs and with the other ends against the rim, as and for the objectstated.

2. An ice velocipede consisting, essentially, of a frame having its rearportion bifurcated and the forks terminating in runners, and its forwardend provided with a tubular head, a

steering bar passing through said head and terminating in a runner asdescribed, a driving wheel journaled in the bi-furcated portion of saidframe and having a U-shaped rim provided with a series of apertures, aseries of dogs pivoted within said rim and provided with curved points,said dogs having studs provided with lock nuts and being surrounded byspiral springs bearing with one end upon the dogs and with the other endagainst the rim as described, the sprocket wheels, the driving belt andsuitable pedal mechanism, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntoset my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE RIEXINGER. Attest:

WM. 0. STARK, MICHAEL J. STARK.

